Learning & Development Lead - Manufacturing

Job Description

Join our fast-growing Animal Health organization and shape the learning and capability strategy that powers our ambitious transformation agenda.

For our Animal Health location Boxmeer, we are currently recruiting a Learning & Development Lead (Manufacturing)

Welcome to our team

Our Boxmeer site manufactures and packages animal health products according to Good Manufacturing Practices standards (GMP). The Learning & Development (L&D) team sits within the Center of Excellence Operational Excellence (CoE OPX) alongside the MPS and SAP Data & Processes teams. L&D drives business performance by designing, delivering and continuously improving targeted learning solutions, capability frameworks and development pathways that build skills, increase adoption and sustain operational excellence across the organization. In a fast-changing and highly regulated manufacturing environment, the role of L&D is essential in enabling transformation, supporting strategic priorities, and helping employees at all levels adapt to new ways of working.

Purpose of the role

Reporting to the Director of Operational Excellence, you play a key role in enabling performance and delivering results at our Boxmeer and De Bilt manufacturing sites. You will be responsible for shaping and ensuring the effective execution of the local learning strategy in alignment with strategic business priorities and our global L&D frameworks. You will lead and develop a team of 4 L&D professionals and act as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders, translating business needs into impactful learning and capability solutions that drive performance improvement, change adoption, and sustainable behavior change. You will work closely with Site Leaders, Global L&D, and external learning partners to ensure that L&D contributes directly to strategic objectives and workforce readiness.

Main tasks and responsibilities

·       Shape the learning and capability strategy for the site. Translate business and workforce needs into a clear learning strategy and execute solutions in partnership with business leaders, HRBPs, and site functions to ensure an integrated plan.

·       Serve as strategic learning business partner and advisor to Senior Leadership; position L&D as a lever for the Manufacturing the Future Strategy and broader business transformation.

·       Lead and manage a team of site L&D Specialists and -admins: set priorities, establish measurable outcomes, and oversee analysis, design, and execution of site learning needs.

·       Align site-level execution with Global Learning & Development (GL&D), localizing global initiatives and ensuring proper delivery of core and common curriculum.

·       Strengthen the skills and capabilities of the current and future workforce to ensure relevance, readiness, and on-time execution.

·       Run L&D like a business: drive efficiencies, align governance to business needs, and build L&D capability for higher impact.

·       Establish, deepen, and sustain relationships with site leadership, managers, and HR business partners to identify business needs, capability gaps, and priorities.

·       Lead cross-functional collaboration with stakeholders and subject-matter experts to define desired performance outcomes and design appropriate learning solutions.

·       Identify performance gaps and deliver or facilitate learning solutions; document customization and localization needs for global programs and develop local solutions when required.

·       Drive automation and digitalization within Learning & Development and training processes to streamline processes, improve learner experience, and enhance overall efficiency.

·       Own and administer the regional/site learning system (including QMS Training Subsystem standards); ensure compliance with GL&D, GMP, EHS, and other required standards.

·       Act as Business Process Owner for QMS GMP Training Standard (2.2) and serve as key contact for GMP audits and regulatory inspections.

·       Deliver training directly when needed and/or support local SMEs to develop and deliver training; manage site onboarding aligned with Manufacturing Division onboarding.

·       Act as liaison with Learning Support Services to align tools and administration with site needs; ensure solutions meet client requirements.

·       Stay current on L&D tools, techniques, strategies, and best practices; share leading practices with teams and stakeholders.

·       Monitor progress of strategic learning initiatives, remove barriers, and ensure timely delivery, adoption, and measurable impact.

Your profile

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Human Resource Management, Organizational Psychology, Business Administration, Engineering).
• Proven experience designing and executing Learning strategy.
• Strong experience with leading transformational change, stakeholder management, and navigating resistance to change.
• Strong ability to influence, build commitment, and manage competing priorities in a complex and evolving environment.
• Familiarity or affinity with regulated manufacturing environments and working within compliance frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor a small team of specialists, whether in a temporary project role or within a formal reporting structure.
• Drive for Continuous Improvement and a digital mindset with experience in automating and digitalizing (learning) processes.
• Fluent in English. Proficiency in Dutch is preferred, or a willingness to learn Dutch is highly valued.
• Ideally based within commuting distance of Boxmeer, or willing to relocate, as the role requires a strong on-site presence of at least four days per week.

What we offer

A high-impact role within a complex site of more than 2.500 colleagues, contributing to the company’s future by strengthening workforce capabilities through targeted continuous improvement and transformation programs. This is an opportunity to apply strategic planning, execution excellence, networking, and partnership skills to drive meaningful progress. You will have the chance to shape how our workforce learns, adapts, and performs in a changing environment. Our benefits are very competitive, and the summary below will give you an idea of what you can expect.

·       Competitive compensation aligned with your knowledge and experience.

·       3% year-end payment and an annual bonus based on individual and company performance.

·       35,5 days of leave.

·       Solid Pension Plan.

·       Travel allowance for commuting.

·       Numerous training, coaching and e-learning modules for long term job opportunities and development.

·       Excellent accessibility: the train station is right by our main entrance and there is ample parking.

·       High-quality company restaurant with fresh, healthy options daily.

·       Contribution toward your personal sports/fitness membership to support your vitality.

·       Beautiful private park on the premises, ideal for a walk, break, or moment of relaxation.

·       Mental well-being support via Lyra Health for you and your family members.

·       Access to a dedicated prayer/meditation room.

Animal Health

Our Animal Health Division is a trusted global leader in veterinary medicine, dedicated to preserving and improving health, well-being, and performance of animals and the people who care for them. We are a global team of professionals working together to make a positive difference in animal care and the world’s food supply and have a deep sense of responsibility towards our customers, consumers, animals, society, and our planet.

Through our commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, we offer veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. We invest in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. We are present in more than 50 countries, while our products are available in some 150 markets.

For questions about this vacancy

Please send an email including the vacancy number and job title to the following email address: [email protected]

Applications can only be submitted through our career site.

Required Skills:

Business Translations, Change Management, Fast-Paced Environments, Influencing Skills, Learning and Development (L&D), Learning and Development (L&D) Strategy, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning, Team Management, Transformational Change, Transformational Leadership, Transformational Management

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

10/22/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.